Rigathi Gachagua is taking his political fight directly into Nakuru this weekend, testing whether the momentum that's rattled President William Ruto's hold on Mount Kenya can translate into a county where diverse communities intersect and political loyalties have historically shifted with the winds.
The former deputy president, impeached in the second year of the Kenya Kwanza administration, will begin a two-day tour tomorrow in Naivasha before moving through Nakuru Town East and West constituencies. On Saturday, his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) delegation is scheduled to visit Njoro, Elburgon, Turi, Molo, Kibunja and Rongai. It's a deliberate expansion beyond the Mount Kenya heartland where DCP scored a stunning victory less than one month ago in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, where candidate Kamau Ngotho beat the ruling UDA's candidate by over 30,000 votes.
A County Where Votes Cross Ethnic Lines
Nakuru isn't just another campaign stop. Often described as "Mt Kenya in the diaspora," the county sits at the intersection of the Mount Kenya and Rift Valley voting blocs and has historically attracted intense competition among national political formations. For DCP, the tour provides an early test of whether Gachagua's appeal extends beyond communities that feel betrayed by Ruto's administration.
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, a founding DCP member and one of Gachagua's most vocal allies in the county, said the tour was primarily intended to strengthen the party's grassroots structures. "This is purely a meet-the-people tour. The purpose is to popularise the party and interact with Mwananchi," she said. Gachagua is also expected to officially open a DCP office in Nakuru Town as the party builds its presence across the county.
Kihara's own political journey illustrates the costs of opposing the administration. Last year, dozens of officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, backed by local police, raided her Maraigushu home in Naivasha and arrested her. She's repeatedly described the incident and subsequent legal battles as political persecution linked to her loyalty to Gachagua.
Ruto's Counter-Strategy: Divide and Rule
As Gachagua expands his reach, a third centre of power has emerged in Kirinyaga county, where Ndia MP George Kariuki, a Ruto ally, has kicked off what he calls "consultative forums" at his home in Gacharu. He says he'll invite residents from the region and other parts of the country for the next 90 days "to chart the way forward for Mt Kenya region," after which he will make the 'Gacharu Declaration'.
Kariuki's positioning comes as Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku pushes to sever links between Mount Kenya East and West, a strategy that puts Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in a dilemma where he's called for unity. The East comprises Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi, where Kindiki hails from, while the counties of Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang'a, Nyandarua and parts of Laikipia are in the west.
Ruku confirmed to the Nation that there is "a grand scheme to win about three million votes for Dr Ruto in the Mt Kenya region." He and Kariuki are working together to bring other like-minded leaders on board, he said. "We want to tell our people that this is a government we put in power and we cannot leave at this point in time. Of more significance, we have our son Kindiki at the top and we will support him."
With most of the opposition against Ruto concentrated in the west, Ruku accuses the region of betrayal. He reiterated his assertion that Mt Kenya East would chart its own political path, and claimed that the region, including parts of Kirinyaga county, will mobilise more than three million votes in favour of Ruto's reflection bid.
Gachagua's Expanding Coalition
DCP has already attracted a number of elected leaders in Nakuru, signalling the party's efforts to build a grassroots network ahead of 2027. Among the MCAs who've shifted to the party are Lare's Philip Wanjohi Ndiritu, Turi's John Mwangi Macharia, Maella's Jane Wanjiru Gituku, Kiamaina's Paul Kipkorir Tuwei and Elementaita's George Wang'ang'a Mwaura. Others include Kihingo MCA Simon Kamau Karanja, Shabaab MCA Wathiai, Mai Mahiu's Eliud Kamau Chege, Elburgon's Peter Njuguna Mwaura and Subukia's Isabella Makori, alongside nominated MCAs Ann Njaguara and Bethsheba Kerubo.
DCP official Dr Peter Mbae described the Nakuru tour as an important step in consolidating the party's support following its Ol Kalou victory. He said the by-election had demonstrated that DCP could win elections through peaceful democratic processes and that voters could protect their choices at the ballot. Beyond political mobilisation, Mbae said the party would use the Nakuru tour to listen to residents and gather views that could eventually shape its manifesto ahead of the 2027 election.
"The Ol Kalou victory showed people that it is possible to win elections and that every vote counts. Nakuru is home to people from every part of the country. The party leader will emphasise that everybody has a desire to live peacefully here," he said.
Warnings Against Divisive Politics
The planned visit has drawn interest from UDA-aligned leaders in the county, some of whom have welcomed Gachagua while warning against divisive politics. Biashara Ward MCA Fadhili Msuri said Gachagua had a constitutional right to visit Nakuru and popularise his party but urged him and his supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns. "Nakuru is a cosmopolitan county, and anyone seeking an elective seat or popularising a political party is welcome. However, we urge all leaders and their supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns and refrain from using tribal rhetoric, hate speech or propaganda that could disrupt political meetings or divide residents," he said.
Political analyst Joseph Omondi said Gachagua could find a receptive audience among sections of the Mount Kenya community living in Nakuru, given the historical voting patterns of Kikuyu communities in the county. However, he warned that the increasing political mobilisation could also deepen ethnic and political divisions if leaders failed to keep their campaigns issue-based. "In Kenya, elections are never issue-based but about the tribal kingpins, and we are worried about the polarising politics we are currently witnessing. Nakuru is not new to political violence and this is something we should avoid at all costs," he said.
Kihara called on security agencies to provide adequate protection during the tour, saying DCP supporters had a constitutional right to assemble and market their party. She urged young people not to allow themselves to be used to cause political violence, citing the recent deaths of three youths following unrest in Ol Kalou. "We are telling Kenyans this is a free country. Let Riggy G speak to the people and promote the party without interference. We are just praying nobody will organise goons to disrupt our meetings, but we are asking the police to do their work professionally in maintaining law and order," she said.
Nakuru County Commander Samuel Boit said the security agencies were awaiting formal notification from DCP before making arrangements for the planned political activities. "We have not been notified of the rallies; we are still waiting. Once they do that, we will plan on the security issues," he said.
What Voters Want to Hear
For ordinary residents, however, the political mobilisation will be judged against issues affecting their daily lives. Nakuru town boda boda rider Kevin Kimutai said residents would want to hear concrete proposals on the economy, employment, the cost of living and development rather than attacks on political opponents. Peter Kimani, another resident, said politicians should use the campaign period to address issues affecting ordinary citizens. "Nakuru is a cosmopolitan county and we want leaders who can bring people together. We will listen to him but ultimately we will look at what his politics mean for ordinary residents, not just criticising other leaders," he said.
Gachagua launched a vigorous campaign against Ruto after his impeachment, whom he accused of betrayal. Using DCP, Gachagua has made forays into Mt Kenya region counties, nearly locking out the UDA. He contends that the region has severed its links with Ruto, whom they overwhelmingly supported in 2022, and is determined to use the substantial voter base to ensure that Ruto serves only one term as president with his Wantam movement.
Last month, Gachagua announced a 45-day retreat at his home in Wamunyoro village, where he's been receiving delegations from across the region, as well as from Nairobi and the Rift Valley. This has turned Wamunyoro into a centre of power, where major decisions are being made. Kindiki has also used his Irunduni home to receive regional delegations, in an attempt to counter Gachagua and consolidate support in the region.
Prof Gitile Naituli, a governance expert, says the positioning is being done to counter Gachagua's growing political influence. But he argues that while in the past Mt Kenya residents have never followed a leader, with Gachagua, things have changed. "Gachagua has established political dominance in Mt Kenya to a level that he has become the region's kingpin. This is because the people feel that he is their savior from Kenya Kwanza administration's attacks and perceived persecution," he said, adding: "It will also be an uphill task dividing the mountain vote because the people of this region don't only vote together but they are over 50 per cent socially and economically integrated. It'll not be a walk in the park."
Why This Matters:
The struggle for Mount Kenya's political allegiance will shape the 2027 presidential contest and determine whether communities that powered Ruto to office can hold his administration accountable through the ballot. Nakuru's diverse electorate offers a critical test of whether opposition to the government can transcend ethnic mobilisation and build a coalition based on shared economic grievances. The defection of elected leaders to DCP signals grassroots frustration with an administration many feel has abandoned campaign promises. Yet the government's strategy to divide Mount Kenya East and West threatens to fracture regional solidarity and reduce political competition to ethnic arithmetic rather than policy debate. For ordinary Kenyans struggling with the cost of living and unemployment, the question isn't which political centre holds power but whether any leader will prioritise their daily struggles over elite positioning. The weekend's events will reveal whether democratic space for peaceful assembly and political competition remains protected, or whether state power will be deployed to suppress dissent as it was against Kihara and others who've challenged the administration.